In the sixth paragraph of this article I state that “Secondary axes are more confusing than enlightening”. I encourage people not to use them because of this.

Tertiary axes (secondary plus one, that is, the third axis in a given direction) are even more confusing, so I would definitely advise against them. They are not even a native Excel chart feature, so you would have to go to great lengths to fake a tertiary axis. I’m not going to show how to do this and let you waste your time making confusing and cluttered charts.

1 Open the chart you want to work with by clicking the Office button, “Open,” and selecting the file.
2 Click the chart you want to add the additional axes to. This brings up the “Chart Tools” tab in the top right corner of Excel.
3 Click the “Format” tab. Select the arrow under “Chart Area” (in the “Current Selection” group on the left side of the toolbar). This brings down a selection box. Choose the series you want to add an additional axis to.
4 Click “Format Selection.” Format Selection is directly below the “Chart Area” tab.
5 From the “Series Options” tab (this should be the first one displayed), click “Secondary Axis” and then click the “Close” button.
6 Click the “Layout” tab and choose “Axes” from within the Axes group. Click on “Secondary Vertical Axis” and choose a display option.
7 Repeat Steps 2 to 6 to add another axis.

Unfortunately, I am in a field where I need to include a tertiary y axis on occasion for data documentation. I read in a previous comment somewhere that it is not impossible. I’m fine with the secondary axis addition and scaling and everything, but can’t figure out how to include a third y axis on one x axis.

Thanks so much!

I wrote about that problem here:

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/ColumnsOnTwoAxes.html

Keep in mind that charts with two axes are confusing to read, particularly when you’re trying to figure out which bars go to which axis.

I’m facing a problem that I haven’t seen addressed anywhere.

I have two series of data with clustered column chart. When I add the secondary axis, the columns that where side by side became aligned with the higher valueshiding the lower ones.

Could you help?

Thanks,

Hesley